Neighbours give remains of Firs Park football ground the red card

Derelict toilet block at the entrance to former Firs Park football ground.''Picture: Gary Hutchison

Jill Buchanan

Fed-up residents want to blow the final whistle on the remaining section of a former football ground next to their homes.

It comes after Falkirk Council workers had to clear 200 syringes from a derelict toilet block on the land.

The last match was played at Firs Park, then home of East Stirlingshire, in 2008. The stand and terracing were demolished in January 2012.

Since then a questionmark has hung over the future use of the site. But people living close by are concerned that the toilets and the turnstiles remain.

Bill Swanston, speaking on behalf of the Stewart Road Area Action Group, said: “These have become a haven for drug users, rough sleepers and underage drinkers. Both the police and the council have attempted to contact the owner to have the building secured, with no success so far.”

The football club and the owner of the land, former footballer Alan Mackin, lodged a planning application to build houses on the site in March last year.

A spokesperson for Falkirk Council said: “We are aware of the issues at this location and we are continually removing a variety of drug paraphernalia such as wrappers, spoons and syringes. We will continue to closely monitor the area and keep police informed.”

They added local authority planners were due to meet with the developer next week and would urge the demolition of the remainder of the ground for safety reasons.

Councillor Jim Blackwood toured the site last week. He said: “It’s a bit of a disaster area.”